Ford Spends $3 Million to Ditch EVs for Massive Turbo Truck Plant

In spring 2023, Ford Motor announced plans to invest $1.3 billion to transition its Oakville Assembly Plant in Ontario, Canada, into an electric vehicle hub. Now that it's time to start the project, the car company has announced that it's actually converting the facility into another large Super Duty truck production location.

The future of the auto plant was first brokered in 2020 with Canadian auto union Unifor and included plans to produce five EV models. Four years later, Canada will instead be seeing production of larger versions of the F-150 full-size pickup, with an expected output of 100,000 additional Super Duty trucks annually. The auto manufacturer claims the move is to meet consumer demand; however, consumers have many misconceptions about EVs.

EVs can be a smart move for car owners and have many long-term cost-saving benefits, but there are other reasons to consider ditching them like Ford. Here are some key concerns that keep people from ditching their gas-guzzling cars.

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1. Lack of car model choices

For many people, electric cars do not offer a wide enough variety of choices. Some want bigger, SUV-sized cars, others want sportier rides. Traditionally, electric cars have been sedans.

One big issue with widespread electric car adoption is the lack of electric trucks. In rural areas, trucks are essential for work and transport. Automakers are acutely aware of this issue and are trying to remedy it. Several have electric trucks, such as Ford's F-150 Lightning. Toyota, Tesla, and other automakers have also jumped on the bandwagon.

2. Higher prices

This is an immediate hurdle for consumers. For years, fully electric cars were much more expensive, in part due to materials and battery costs. The price has dropped recently, however. While some upper-level models — such as new Teslas — carry higher sticker prices, automakers now are offering more affordable electric vehicles as well.

Still, electric cars tend to have significantly higher sticker prices than their gas-powered counterparts. Kelley Blue Book data found that the average cost of buying an electric vehicle is $56,371.

Of course, overall fuel cost savings can offset that additional cost over time. While electric cars have additional costs tied to home charging station infrastructure, there are federal tax credits worth several thousand dollars available for many buyers.

3. Charging infrastructure challenges

Electric vehicles pique a lot of interest among drivers. Nearly three-quarters of people polled by Consumer Reports said they might get an electric car at some point. Those who care about climate change see the benefit in moving away from fossil fuels.

But before you buy a Tesla, you face a practical concern: How will you charge the car? And, for that matter, how much does it cost to charge a Tesla? If you live in multifamily housing, there might not be the infrastructure at home to reliably recharge the vehicle. That can leave you at the mercy of public charging stations, which might not be easy to find.

4. Long charging times

In another practicality issue, people are worried about how long it takes to “fill up” electric vehicles. While gasoline-powered cars take only a few minutes to gas up at the pump, it takes longer to give electric vehicles the charge they need to keep running.

For many models, overnight charging of around eight hours has been the norm. Fortunately, that may be changing. Some projections say that within a few years, it might take just minutes to fully charge a car. And even now, some cars can reach 80% or more of a full charge in under an hour.

5. Range anxiety

Even if someone lives in a city with good charging infrastructure, they have to worry about what happens when they drive away from the friendly confines of their metro area. This is one of the bigger challenges facing the electric car industry.

Newer model electric vehicles can go for 200 miles or more on a full charge. But if someone is traveling across the country, particularly in rural areas, finding a place to charge the car can be difficult.

No one wants to get stranded on the open road. Even if help arrives, it might not be equipped to assist you with electric vehicles.

6. The need for speed

Some drivers need large cars for work or transporting family to school. Others like to be able to cruise. Some of the best-known hybrid or electric cars — think the Nissan Leaf or Toyota Prius — are not known or marketed as sports cars.

However, there are several models on the market now that can easily hit speeds of 160 mph or higher. Lotus, Porsche and Tesla all have high-speed electric vehicles. That power comes at a price: Many of these vehicles cost at least six figures.

7. Worries about fires

One safety issue that has dogged the electric car industry in recent years is concern about fires. Images of several models, including Teslas, engulfed in flames have made the rounds.

It is rare for electric cars to catch fire, according to data compiled by researchers. However, the lithium batteries used by electric vehicles can cause spectacular fires that are hard to extinguish.

Bottom line

Are you looking at a new car, but struggle to get past your concerns about electric vehicles? Many of the issues that have affected the electric car market in the past are being addressed, with better infrastructure and charging equipment becoming more widespread.

These vehicles are eco-friendly and increasingly accessible as automakers create more mainstream models that often look indistinguishable from your regular gas-guzzling car. And with gas prices still high amid surging inflation, you could save money on your car by giving electric automobiles another look.

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